When was Mrs. Fields founded?

Mrs. Fields was founded in 1977 by Debbi Fields in Palo Alto, California. The company has operated for nearly 50 years and remains a prominent specialty cookie retailer.

How many Mrs. Fields locations are there?

Mrs. Fields operates over 300 franchised and licensed locations across the United States and in 22 other countries. The brand has a significant presence in shopping malls, retail centers, and high-traffic locations.

What is Mrs. Fields known for?

Mrs. Fields is known for its freshly-baked-on-premises chocolate chip cookies and specialty cookies. The brand emphasizes fresh baking, premium ingredients, and the distinctive Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie recipe developed by founder Debbi Fields.

Is Mrs. Fields publicly traded?

No, Mrs. Fields is not publicly traded. The brand is owned by Famous Brands, a privately held company that was recently acquired by Pearl Street Equity. As a private company, Mrs. Fields does not have publicly traded stock.

Who Owns Mrs. Fields?

Q: Who owns Mrs. Fields?

Mrs. Fields is owned by Famous Brands, which was recently acquired by Pearl Street Equity in October 2025. Famous Brands also owns TCBY frozen yogurt, creating a combined food service company.

Mrs. Fields is owned by Famous Brands, a Salt Lake City-based company that was recently acquired by Pearl Street Equity in 2025. Founded in 1977 by Debbi Fields, Mrs. Fields operates as a franchisor with over 300 franchised and licensed locations across the United States and 22 other countries.

Parent Company

Famous Brands Limited

Founded

1977

Status

Private

Headquarters

Broomfield, Colorado, USA

Who Owns Mrs. Fields?

Parent Company: Famous Brands Limited
Ownership Type: Subsidiary
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: JSE: FB

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Mrs. Fields	Famous Brands Limited	Subsidiary

History of Mrs. Fields

Founded: 1977
Founders: Debbi Fields

Mrs. Fields was founded in 1977 by Debbi Fields in Palo Alto, California. At age 21, with a passion for baking and a desire to own her own business, Fields opened her first chocolate chip cookie store. The store's success was immediate, and Fields expanded the concept rapidly throughout California and beyond. The brand became known for its freshly-baked-on-premises cookies and distinctive chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mrs. Fields expanded nationally and internationally, becoming one of the largest specialty cookie retailers in the United States. The company went public in 1988, allowing for significant expansion and capital investment. Debbi Fields became a prominent businesswoman and entrepreneur, recognized for building a successful company in a male-dominated business environment.

In 2005, Mrs. Fields was acquired by TCBY Enterprises, creating a combined company with both cookie and frozen yogurt brands. This merger created synergies between the two complementary food service concepts. In subsequent years, Mrs. Fields continued to operate as a major specialty cookie retailer while adapting to changing consumer preferences and retail trends. The brand has maintained its focus on freshly-baked cookies and premium ingredients while expanding its product offerings and distribution channels.

About Famous Brands Limited

What does Famous Brands own?
Famous Brands owns and franchises five major restaurant brands: Wimpy (full-service family restaurants), Mugg and Bean (coffee and casual dining), Steers (flame-grilled burgers), Debonairs Pizza (pizza delivery and takeaway), and RocoMamas (smash burgers and craft beer). The company operates more than 2,900 restaurant outlets across South Africa, the rest of Africa, and international markets.

Is Famous Brands publicly traded?
Yes, Famous Brands Limited is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under ticker FBR. The company has been publicly listed since 1994. Famous Brands has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder.

Who founded Famous Brands?
Famous Brands was founded in 1972 and grew through the acquisition and development of restaurant brands in South Africa. The company's history is closely tied to the development of the South African quick-service restaurant industry, including the acquisition of the South African Wimpy franchise rights and the development of Steers and Debonairs Pizza.

Where is Famous Brands headquartered?
Famous Brands is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company operates restaurant outlets across South Africa, the rest of Africa, and international markets including the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

How many restaurants does Famous Brands operate?
Famous Brands operates more than 2,900 restaurant outlets across its five major brands. The vast majority of these restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees, with Famous Brands providing brand licensing, food supply, and operational support.

Who owns Famous Brands?
Famous Brands Limited is publicly traded on the JSE with a broad institutional and retail shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Darren Hele serves as Group CEO.

Founded: 1972
Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: JSE: FB

View full company profile for Famous Brands Limited

Where Is Mrs. Fields Made / Based?

Headquarters: Broomfield, Colorado, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Brands Owned by Famous Brands Limited

Debonairs Pizza - South African pizza casual dining restaurant chain, owned by Famous Brands Limit...
Mugg & Bean - South African coffee shop and casual dining restaurant chain, owned by Famous Br...
Steers - South African flame-grilled burger fast food chain owned by Famous Brands Limite...
Wimpy - South African casual dining restaurant chain specializing in burgers and classic...

View all brands owned by Famous Brands Limited

Mrs. Fields Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Established brand recognition and customer loyalty built over 45+ years
+Freshly-baked-on-premises model differentiates from mass-produced competitors
+Franchise model allows for scalable expansion with franchisee investment
+Iconic founder story and brand heritage
+Complementary TCBY brand under same ownership
+Premium positioning supports higher pricing and margins

Considerations

-Dependency on mall and retail foot traffic, which has declined in recent years
-Competition from specialty bakeries and mass-market cookie brands
-Franchise model creates variable service quality across locations
-Ownership transition to Pearl Street Equity may bring strategic changes
-Labor-intensive freshly-baked model increases operational costs
-Vulnerability to real estate and retail trends

Frequently Asked Questions About Mrs. Fields

Competitors to Mrs. Fields

No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Mrs. Fieldsoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.